VICTORY: NM Runners get first win of the season

RIO RANCHO – They’d been circling that first win all season long. Now, after nine games, eight losses, two head coaches and 116 goals allowed, the New Mexico Runners have gotten off the schneid and grabbed their first victory of the season, a 9-4 toppling of Certified Lions.

The win snaps a 15-game losing streak, dating back to February 2024. It is their first regulation-time win since Jan. 27, 2023 (an 11-8 win over the Amarillo Bombers).

The Lions, out of Oklahoma City, came to the Rio Rancho Events Center (RREC) on Sunday evening, expecting an easy win. And why not? After all, they’d already beaten the Runners three times this season... and by a lot—19-5 (Dec. 22, 2024), 11-6 (Dec. 29, 2024), 17-5 (Mar. 1, 2025).

Whatever the Lions expected to happen, however, didn’t materialize. The Runners, who’ve shown new life since the introduction of head coach Brian Weems at the end of January, had different plans.

The game started fast and, as per usual for Arena Soccer League games, it stayed fast until the final whistle.

NM Runners striker Nick Cashmere opened the evening’s scoring with a strike in the opening minutes of the game (assisted by goalkeeper Nate Yeager.)

Less than two minutes later, Vince Aragon made it 2-0 for the New Mexico team.

The Lions responded with a goal from Alejandro Chavez a short time later.

Runner Terry Zamora quickly got a blue card (penalty), and it looked like the tide might be turning. But that turned out to not be the case. The Runners pulled themselves together and Zamora’s blue card ended up being the team’s only booking of the match.

As if seeking revenge for the Certified Lions’ goal, the Runners rattled off two quick goals, though it might not have seemed “quick.” The goals took fewer than thirty seconds of gametime, but several minutes in real-time.

Benji Rogers knocked one into the Lions’ net at the end of the first quarter, with an assist from Froilan Ramirez. Rogers would end the night with a “hat trick” (three goals), his first since joining the team at the beginning of this season. That puts his season tally at seven and ties him for the team lead with Cashmere.

After the break, Froilan Ramirez got a goal himself, with an assist from Cashmere.

OKC’s Luke Jeffus scored partway through the second quarter, but the Runners held on and went into the locker room up 4-2, only the second time this season they’ve carried a lead into halftime.

NM Runners team leader Jordan Maldonado had a particularly noteworthy night. The fierce footballer scored with just two minutes left in the game to break a two-month scoring drought. It was a “get right” game for the veteran player, who’s scored five of his six goals this season versus the Lions.

With only five minutes left in the match, Michael Stephens netted a solo shot to the corner of the Lions’ net, effectively ending any comeback hopes for the Oklahoma City team.

The Runners scored nine goals on 21 shots, while the Lions scored four goals on 20 shots. The win was decisive and the Runners, rightly, rushed the field to celebrate their first win of the season.

The Lions drop to 4-7 and remain in fourth place (out of seven).

The Runners’ record improves to 1-8, though they remain at the bottom of the standings. They’ll look to turn that “win” into a “streak” when they face Chihuahua Savage II in a double header Mar. 14 and 15 at the Savage II home field in Chihuahua, Mexico.

The final game of the season takes place the following weekend, when the Runners take on the Empire Jets at the RREC, Mar. 23.

“The season finale is themed ‘Hispanic Heritage Day’ celebrating the New Mexico Runners being a 100% Hispanic owned and operated sports team,” said team owner Andres Trujillo in a news release.

For tickets and more information, visit newmexicorunners.com.